Pacific Crest Trail Association

volunteer >
donate >
  • Discover the trail
    • Backcountry basics
      • Advice for international hikers
      • Find a hiking partner
      • Fire information
        • Burn area safety
        • How to react to wildfires
        • What you should know about fire restrictions, warnings and watches
      • First Aid
      • Hiking and backpacking with children
      • Hiking with dogs
      • Leave No Trace
        • Axes, hatchets and saws
        • Basic skill: pooping in four steps
        • Finding a great campsite
        • Graffiti and vandalism
        • Honest talk about toilet paper and uncovered feces
        • Leaving “trail magic” caches
        • Pack it in, pack it out
        • Plan ahead and prepare
        • The problem of water caches on the PCT
        • The wonderful upsides of dry camping
        • Tips to navigate the start of a thru-hike
        • Travel and camp on durable surfaces
      • Navigation
      • PCT gear and equipment
      • PCT transportation
      • Safety tips
        • Danger from individuals cultivating marijuana
        • Emergency beacons, lost hikers, trip plans, and search and rescue
        • Sexual harassment and similar crimes
      • Snow information
        • Avalanche danger
        • Sierra comparison photos
      • Trail food
        • Bear canister requirements and protecting your food
      • Water issues
        • PCT Water Report
        • Stream crossing safety while hiking and backpacking
    • Equestrian center
      • Equestrian animal choices
      • Equestrian basics
      • Equestrian equipment
      • Equestrian FAQ
      • Equestrian logistics
      • Equestrian safety
      • Equestrian trail conditions
    • Day and section hiking
    • John Muir Trail
      • JMT FAQ
      • JMT transportation
      • JMT permits
      • JMT resupply
      • JMT history
      • JMT maps and books
    • Thru-hiking and long-distance hiking
      • 2,600 miler list
      • Finishers and Alumni
      • Northbound vs. Southbound
      • Resupply strategy
      • Southbound thru-hike guide
      • Thru-hiker FAQ
    • Maps
      • Google Earth
      • Daily satellite images
    • Permits
    • Photo gallery
      • California
      • Equestrian
      • Flora and Fauna
      • Oregon
      • Washington
      • Trail Work
      • Historical
      • Trail Heritage
    • The regions
      • Southern California
      • Central California
      • Northern California
      • Oregon
      • Washington
    • Trail conditions and closures
      • Report trail conditions
    • PCT FAQ
    • Books
  • Our work
    • Advocacy
    • Land protection
      • Land Protection Q&A
    • Managing visitor use on the PCT
      • Addressing avoidable impacts
      • A vision for the trail experience
      • Strategies for Visitor Use Management
      • What is Visitor Use Management?
    • Outreach
    • Partnerships
      • Agency partners
      • Corps and youth group partnerships
      • Equestrian partnerships
      • Volunteer trail group partnerships
      • Corporate partnerships
    • PCT Communicator magazine
    • Trail and land management
      • PCT visitor use statistics
      • Relocating the PCT to Tejon Ranch
      • Statement of the Trail Experience
    • Trail maintenance and reconstruction
    • Youth programs
  • About us
    • Our mission, vision and values
    • Financials, reports and plans
    • Staff
    • Regional offices
    • Board of Directors
    • Jobs
    • History
    • Contact us
    • Media room
      • Media images
      • Media fact sheet
      • Media contacts
  • Community
    • Events
    • Get published by PCTA
    • 2018 P3 Program
    • The Journalist
    • #PacificCrestTrail Live
    • Join the conversation
    • Pacific Crest Trail TV
    • Photo contest
    • Trail Journal List
      • Submit trail journal
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Wild
  • Volunteer
    • Project schedule
    • Volunteer application
    • For new volunteers
    • Trail Skills College
      • Allingham Trail Skills College
      • Big Bend Trail Skills College
      • Columbia Cascades Trail Skills College
      • North Cascades Trail Skills College
      • West Cascades Trail Skills College
      • Southern California Trail Skills College
      • Tahoe Trail Skills College
      • Saw Training and Certification
        • Estacada Crosscut Saw Training and Certification
        • North Cascades Saw Training and Certification
        • Southern California Saw Training and Certification Weekend
        • Wind River Saw Training and Certification Weekend
        • PCTA Saw Training and Certification Program Documents
      • Trail Skills College Course Curriculum
    • Regional groups
    • Volunteer learning center
    • Office and event volunteers
    • Crew leader center
    • Volunteer rewards
    • Award winners
  • Donate
    • Your support matters
    • Membership
    • Monthly giving
    • Trail guardian club
    • Donate
    • Fundraise for PCTA
    • Honorary/Memorial
    • Workplace giving
    • Matching gifts
    • Gifts of securities
    • Bequests
    • Endowment funds
    • Corporate giving
    • Mail or phone
    • PayPal
Celebrating 50 Years as
A National Scenic Trail
The Pacific Crest Trail
1968 - 2018
Latest News

Help us protect America's greatest wilderness
experience as we look forward to the next 50 years.

Crest Circle. Become a monthly donor.
Volunteer
PCTA Membership, Join or renew today!
  • Join or Renew
  • Monthly Giving
  • Gift Memberships
  • Trail Guardian Club
  • Why Give
  • Find a Project
  • New Volunteers
  • Trail Skills College
  • Volunteer Application
  • Basics
  • Safety
  • Logistics
  • Trail Conditions
  • Equipment
  • Animal Choices
  • FAQ
  • Backcountry basics
  • Maps and Guidebooks
  • Long distance hiking

Saddle up

From trailhead conditions to tips on
safety and logistics

Take a hike

Trip basics to long-distance permits,
maps and gear

Latest News

The PCT in the Columbia River Gorge could open soon
3 days ago

You’re invited to our Annual Meeting – April 28 in Sacramento, CA
1 week ago

A tribute to Dan Ogden: 1923-2018
1 week ago

2018 Crest Runners, Terminus Host, tout Leave No Trace ethics and trail etiquette
1 week ago

Pacific Crest Trail Association
is focused on keeping the trail wild and open for future generations.

Featured

Fin Dome in Kings Canyon National Park. The Pacific Crest Trail/John Muir Trail winding away.

Permits

PCT alumni thruhikers standing at the northern terminus on the Canadian border

Finishers and Alumni

Project schedule

You’re invited to our Annual Meeting – April 28 in Sacramento, CA

Pacific Crest Trail thru-hikers head north in May 2017. Photo by Owen Rojek

Application dates for the 2018 PCT long-distance permit

Trail conditions and closures

Everybody poops: straight poop from Ranger John about number two on the PCT

Get involved with the Pacific Crest Trail Association volunteer program

Buy our PCT book today. You'll love it. The Pacific Crest Trail: Exploring America’s Wilderness Trail is truly special. Published by Rizzoli. Written by Mark Larabee, Barney Scout Mann, with a forward from Cheryl Strayed.

Our book | The Pacific Crest Trail: Exploring America’s Wilderness Trail

Photo of dog hiking on leash with backpack.

Hiking with dogs

Thanks for signing up for smile.amazon.com and supporting PCTA every time you make a purchase!

Donate to PCTA every time you shop at Amazon – takes less than a minute

A Pacific Crest Trail thru-hiker in Marble Mountains Wilderness. Photo by Samantha

Emergency beacons, lost hikers, trip plans, and search and rescue

  • Follow us

  • Sign up for PCT emails

    • Pacific Crest Trail Association
      1331 Garden Highway
      Sacramento, CA 95833
    • 916-285-1846 main
      916-285-1865 fax
    • PCTA is a 501(c)(3).
      Tax ID#: 33-0051202
    Contact us | Media room
    Privacy policy | Terms of service
    Copyright © 1998-2018. All rights reserved.
  • Corporate Partnerships

    Join us in thanking these generous businesses for their support of the Pacific Crest Trail. Complete list of supporters